Excel for the Middle and High School Math Classroom
Introduction
This 3 hour professional development is designed to help middle and high school teachers become familiar and comfortable with Excel applications. We will point out uses and possible integrations of Excel applications found in [[#|Microsoft Office]]. We will also collaborate on best practices when integrating this software.
Professional Development Standards for This Training
ISTE NETS 2008 for Teachers
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:
a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness. b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers:
a. demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations. Why Use Excel? Students make charts and graphs from spreadsheet records and real world data, learning to organize their ideas and present information to an audience. Charts add meaning to information, helping students to analyze and interpret data, as they identify the maximum and minimum, mean, median and mode of a data set. The computer can generate bar graphs, line graphs and pie charts. Pie charts reinforce the idea of percentages as these are represented visually, and help students compare ratios. Students make their own Bar Graphs by filling cells with color, and [[#|Clip Art]] is used to make Pictographs.
The term spreadsheet was derived from a large piece of paper that accountants used for [[#|business finances]]. The accountant would spread information like costs, payments, taxes, income, etc out on a single, big, oversized sheet of paper to get a complete financial overview.
Relevancy Spreadsheets allow the use of real time data. The Internet provides students with access to current data that cannot be found in any other source. Real time data is dynamic changing information such as weather conditions, current news stories, [[#|stock market prices]], census data, or volcano and earthquake conditions. Textbook data can be outdated. There are many scientific posts on the Internet that students can attain data to analyze and evaluate. These sites allow students to become actively involved in their learning and assume the role of researchers exploring trends and correlations and creating their own connections. We will explore some real time data sites that you could use as a the data source for spreadsheet activities.
Some examples of relevant spreadsheet usage:
Spreadsheets act like a calculator by automatically doing calculations.
Spreadsheets are used for tracking personal investments, budgeting, invoices, inventory tracking, statistical analysis, numerical modeling, address books, telephone books, printing labels, etc.
Spreadsheets are used in almost every profession to calculate, graph, analyze and store information.
Spreadsheets are used for What-if calculations. Change one number in a spreadsheet and all the calculations in a large spreadsheet will re-calculate, will automatically change.
Formatting an Excel Document
Create Sub Folder Workbook
Example of Making a Graph Squares and Square Roots - Formatting, merge, add rows, fill down, fill series, create chart, format chart.
Tips for Entering Formulas1.Formulas are just equations. Instead of adding or subtracting numbers you are adding and subtracting the contents of a cell.2. Excel includes a number of predefined functions to use as well. You can combine the predefined functions into your own formula.
3. When you type in formulas, the order of operations must be correct. The correct order is: parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, then subtraction.
4. Remember if you use formulas with equations in the numerator and denominator, you need to use parenthesis () to force the spreadsheet to calculate them properly.
5. Make sure when copying a formula that you are copying the formula and not the results.
Inserting a Chart 1. Select columns that you want to graph (make sure that you include the titles).
2. On a PC, click F11 and your chart will appear. 3. On a Mac, click the Chart icon on the Ribbon. (Or ClickInsert > Chart... The "Chart Wizard" window appears.) 4. Select the type of graph (chart) that you would like to create (bar, pie, linear, etc.). 5. If using the Chart Wizard: a. Then select Next>> three times. b. Type in the Title and a Subtitle, if desired. c. Then select Finish. 6. You can change the titles, colors and preferences by double clicking on the graph on the items you would like to change.
7. You can insert the chart on a different sheet by going to Chart on the top menu and selecting move chart.
Use data found on internet to model inputting data and using various toolbars to manipulate data. World Cup Data
Absolute and Relative Cell Referencing 1. Enter 10 in A1 and 20 in A2. 2. Click in cell B2 and type =A1+A2, then Enter. You should get 30. (10+20=30) 3. Now click in cell B2, Cntl Click, Copy. 4. Click in cell B3, Cntl Click, Paste. I got 20?? 5. Odd 10+20 is not 20. This is because the default for cell referencing in Excel is Relative. Which means that when we thought we were copying the formula into Cell B3 we actually copied the movements of up one and left one which is where A1 and A2 are relatively located from B2. 6. Absolute cell referencing will cause this to work properly. To reference a cell using absolute cell referencing you need to use a dollar sign ($). To actually copy the formula not the spaces moved you need to put the formula in as =$A$1+$A$2. 7. You can mix relative and absolute cell referencing, but we are not going to cover that today.
How to Create a Self Checking Worksheet
1. Open a blank workbook in Excel.
2. Label cell A1 “Question.”
3. Label cell B1 “Answer.”
4. Label cell C1 “ Feedback.”
5. In cell A2 type the question.
6. Leave B2 blank.
7. In cell C2 enter the formula below:
=IF(ISBLANK(B2)," ",IF(B2="Right Answer","Correct", "Try again"))
8. Continue entering your questions in column A
9. You do not have to keep reentering the formula. Once the formula has been entered correctly in cell A3 you
can use the fill technique to add the formula to each cell in the feedback column.
10. Once you have filled the formula you will need to go back and change the “right answer” to
whatever is the correct answer for the question. The rest of the formula can stay the same, except if the
answer is a numeral. In that case you must delete the quotation marks around the answer.
Note: The right answer is exactly what you type. If you enter “Washington” as the right answer, “George
Washington” will not be correct; however, the right answer is not case sensitive, so “washington” would be correct.
• It helps to provide a word bank if there are multiple forms in which a student might enter an answer.
Once you have created the worksheet you will need to hide the formulas, unlock certain cells, and protect the
worksheet.
1. Highlight the cells in the Answer column by clicking once on the letter B at the top of the column. Then
select Format Cells, select the Protection Tab, uncheck Locked and Click OK.
2. Highlight the cells in the Feedback column by clicking once on the letter C. Then select Format Cells,
Protection tab, check Locked and check Hidden, Click OK.
3. To make these take effect you have to protect the worksheet. Tools, Protection, Protect Sheet, enter
a password if you want, click OK.
• Passwords cannot be recovered if you forget them. Use something you are sure to remember.
Introduction
This 3 hour professional development is designed to help middle and high school teachers become familiar and comfortable with Excel applications. We will point out uses and possible integrations of Excel applications found in [[#|Microsoft Office]]. We will also collaborate on best practices when integrating this software.
Professional Development Standards for This Training
ISTE NETS 2008 for Teachers1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:
a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.
b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers:
a. demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.
Why Use Excel? Students make charts and graphs from spreadsheet records and real world data, learning to organize their ideas and present information to an audience. Charts add meaning to information, helping students to analyze and interpret data, as they identify the maximum and minimum, mean, median and mode of a data set. The computer can generate bar graphs, line graphs and pie charts. Pie charts reinforce the idea of percentages as these are represented visually, and help students compare ratios. Students make their own Bar Graphs by filling cells with color, and [[#|Clip Art]] is used to make Pictographs.
The term spreadsheet was derived from a large piece of paper that accountants used for [[#|business finances]]. The accountant would spread information like costs, payments, taxes, income, etc out on a single, big, oversized sheet of paper to get a complete financial overview.
Relevancy Spreadsheets allow the use of real time data. The Internet provides students with access to current data that cannot be found in any other source. Real time data is dynamic changing information such as weather conditions, current news stories, [[#|stock market prices]], census data, or volcano and earthquake conditions. Textbook data can be outdated. There are many scientific posts on the Internet that students can attain data to analyze and evaluate. These sites allow students to become actively involved in their learning and assume the role of researchers exploring trends and correlations and creating their own connections. We will explore some real time data sites that you could use as a the data source for spreadsheet activities.
Some examples of relevant spreadsheet usage:
Spreadsheets act like a calculator by automatically doing calculations.
Spreadsheets are used for tracking personal investments, budgeting, invoices, inventory tracking, statistical analysis, numerical modeling, address books, telephone books, printing labels, etc.
Spreadsheets are used in almost every profession to calculate, graph, analyze and store information.
Spreadsheets are used for What-if calculations. Change one number in a spreadsheet and all the calculations in a large spreadsheet will re-calculate, will automatically change.
Formatting an Excel Document
Create Sub Folder Workbook
Example of Making a Graph
Squares and Square Roots - Formatting, merge, add rows, fill down, fill series, create chart, format chart.
Tips for Entering Formulas1.Formulas are just equations. Instead of adding or subtracting numbers you are adding and subtracting the contents of a cell.2. Excel includes a number of predefined functions to use as well. You can combine the predefined functions into your own formula.
3. When you type in formulas, the order of operations must be correct. The correct order is: parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, then subtraction.
4. Remember if you use formulas with equations in the numerator and denominator, you need to use parenthesis () to force the spreadsheet to calculate them properly.
5. Make sure when copying a formula that you are copying the formula and not the results.
Inserting a Chart
1. Select columns that you want to graph (make sure that you include the titles).
2. On a PC, click F11 and your chart will appear.
3. On a Mac, click the Chart icon on the Ribbon. (Or Click Insert > Chart... The "Chart Wizard" window appears.)
4. Select the type of graph (chart) that you would like to create (bar, pie, linear, etc.).
5. If using the Chart Wizard:
a. Then select Next>> three times.
b. Type in the Title and a Subtitle, if desired.
c. Then select Finish.
6. You can change the titles, colors and preferences by double clicking on the graph on the items you would like to change.
7. You can insert the chart on a different sheet by going to Chart on the top menu and selecting move chart.
Use data found on internet to model inputting data and using various toolbars to manipulate data.
World Cup Data
Absolute and Relative Cell Referencing
1. Enter 10 in A1 and 20 in A2.
2. Click in cell B2 and type =A1+A2, then Enter. You should get 30. (10+20=30)
3. Now click in cell B2, Cntl Click, Copy.
4. Click in cell B3, Cntl Click, Paste. I got 20??
5. Odd 10+20 is not 20. This is because the default for cell referencing in Excel is Relative. Which means that when we thought we were copying the formula into Cell B3 we actually copied the movements of up one and left one which is where A1 and A2 are relatively located from B2.
6. Absolute cell referencing will cause this to work properly. To reference a cell using absolute cell referencing you need to use a dollar sign ($). To actually copy the formula not the spaces moved you need to put the formula in as =$A$1+$A$2.
7. You can mix relative and absolute cell referencing, but we are not going to cover that today.
Example of Absolute and Relative Cell Referencing
More Examples
Linear Equations in Excel
Data for Inserting into Excel
Use data above to create a chart showing population differences in the 5 largest counties in Tennessee.
Landmarks for Schools Raw Data
How to Create a Self Checking Worksheet
1. Open a blank workbook in Excel.
2. Label cell A1 “Question.”
3. Label cell B1 “Answer.”
4. Label cell C1 “ Feedback.”
5. In cell A2 type the question.
6. Leave B2 blank.
7. In cell C2 enter the formula below:
=IF(ISBLANK(B2)," ",IF(B2="Right Answer","Correct", "Try again"))
8. Continue entering your questions in column A
9. You do not have to keep reentering the formula. Once the formula has been entered correctly in cell A3 you
can use the fill technique to add the formula to each cell in the feedback column.
10. Once you have filled the formula you will need to go back and change the “right answer” to
whatever is the correct answer for the question. The rest of the formula can stay the same, except if the
answer is a numeral. In that case you must delete the quotation marks around the answer.
Note: The right answer is exactly what you type. If you enter “Washington” as the right answer, “George
Washington” will not be correct; however, the right answer is not case sensitive, so “washington” would be correct.
• It helps to provide a word bank if there are multiple forms in which a student might enter an answer.
Once you have created the worksheet you will need to hide the formulas, unlock certain cells, and protect the
worksheet.
1. Highlight the cells in the Answer column by clicking once on the letter B at the top of the column. Then
select Format Cells, select the Protection Tab, uncheck Locked and Click OK.
2. Highlight the cells in the Feedback column by clicking once on the letter C. Then select Format Cells,
Protection tab, check Locked and check Hidden, Click OK.
3. To make these take effect you have to protect the worksheet. Tools, Protection, Protect Sheet, enter
a password if you want, click OK.
• Passwords cannot be recovered if you forget them. Use something you are sure to remember.
Example of Teacher [[#|Lesson Plan]]
Advanced Excel and Using Formulas
http://empowerstudents.wikispaces.com/Advanced+Excel+and+Using+Formulas
Spreadsheet Lessons
http://www.middleschool.net/lesspln/mathF/mathlp.htm
http://www.lttechno.com/links/spreadsheets.html
http://mathforum.org/mathtools/cell/a,11.8.3,ALL,ALL/
http://mathforum.org/sum95/math_and/spreadsheets/examples.html
http://www.lttechno.com/links/spreadsheets.html
http://eusesconsortium.org/edu/resources-problems.php
Tutorials
Excel Help
How to Make a Pictogram
http://rms102.wikispaces.com/Using Excel